Dimethyl Dicarbonate CAS#4525-33-1
Dimethyl dicarbonate (DMDC), also known as Viguolin, is a preservative used in fruit juice beverages and is designated as INS No. 242 under applicable food additive standards.
Under normal and even low-temperature conditions, DMDC has a strong ability to eliminate a wide range of contaminating bacteria in fruit juice beverages. Its preservative effect is closely associated with the modification and inactivation of key enzyme proteins in bacteria by DMDC.
Compared with other physical sterilization technologies, DMDC offers low application costs and is simple and safe to use. It also has little impact on the taste, aroma, and color of the treated product.
Due to these characteristics, DMDC has become an important area of research in the development of emerging non-thermal sterilization technologies.
Dimethyl dicarbonate Chemical Properties
| Melting point | 15-17°C |
| Boiling point | 45-46 °C5 mm Hg(lit.) |
| density | 1.25 g/mL at 25 °C(lit.) |
| vapor pressure | 0.7 hPa (20 °C) |
| refractive index | n20/D 1.392(lit.) |
| Fp | 80 °C |
| storage temp. | Store below +30°C. |
| solubility | 35g/l (decomposition) |
| form | Oil |
| color | Colourless |
| explosive limit | 3-29.9%(V) |
| Water Solubility | 35g/L (decomposition) |
| BRN | 956715 |
| Stability: | Moisture Sensitive |
| InChI | 1S/C4H6O5/c1-7-3(5)9-4(6)8-2/h1-2H3 |
| InChIKey | GZDFHIJNHHMENY-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
| SMILES | O(C)C(=O)OC(=O)OC |
| LogP | 0.082 (est) |
| EPA Substance Registry System | Dicarbonic acid, dimethyl ester (4525-33-1) |
| Hazard Codes | T |
| Risk Statements | 21/22-23-34 |
| Safety Statements | 18-26-28-36/37/39-38-45 |
| RIDADR | UN 2927 6.1/PG 2 |
| WGK Germany | 3 |
| RTECS | HT0362500 |
| F | 46286 |
| Autoignition Temperature | 465 °C |
| TSCA | TSCA listed |
| HS Code | 2920 90 10 |
| HazardClass | 6.1(a) |
| PackingGroup | II |
| Storage Class | 6.1A - Combustible, acute toxic Cat. 1 and 2 |
| very toxic hazardous materials | |
| Hazard Classifications | Acute Tox. 2 Inhalation |
| Acute Tox. 4 Oral | |
| Eye Dam. 1 | |
| Skin Corr. 1B | |
| Hazardous Substances Data | 4525-33-1(Hazardous Substances Data) |
| Toxicity | LD50 orally in Rabbit: 335 mg/kg LD50 dermal Rat > 1250 mg/kg |
Product Application of Dimethyl Dicarbonate CAS#4525-33-1
Dimethyl dicarbonate (DMDC) is used as a microbial control agent in wine, ready-to-drink teas, non-juice-containing beverages, and carbonated dilute beverages containing juice, fruit flavor, or both, provided that the juice content does not exceed 50%.
DMDC is widely used as an antimicrobial agent against a broad range of microorganisms. Its primary target microorganisms are yeasts, including Saccharomyces, Zygosaccharomyces, Rhodotorula, Candida, Pichia, Torulopsis, Torula, Endomyces, Kloeckera, and Hansenula. DMDC also exhibits bactericidal activity against several bacterial species, including Acetobacter pasteurianus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, several Lactobacillus species, and Pediococcus cerevisiae. It has also been shown to be bactericidal against Escherichia coli O157.
The antimicrobial effect of DMDC results from the deactivation of microbial enzymes, primarily through reactions with imidazole and amine groups in proteins, ultimately leading to the destruction of microorganisms.
Any remaining unreacted DMDC rapidly decomposes into methanol and carbon dioxide. The activity of DMDC is related to its hydrolysis rate. Hydrolysis occurs when DMDC reacts with water, and the rate depends on the temperature of the beverage or wine. Complete decomposition of DMDC takes approximately four hours at 10°C (50°F) or two hours at 20°C (68°F).
